Devices and methods for position detection by a 3D magnetic field sensor

Abstract

A device includes a first electronic component and a case, wherein the case includes a first charging compartment configured to accommodate and charge the first electronic component. The device further includes a first magnet included in the first electronic component and a 3D magnetic field sensor included in the case. The device further includes a detection unit configured to detect a position of the first electronic component relative to the first charging compartment based on a magnetic field sensed by the 3D magnetic field sensor.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A device, comprising:
 a first electronic component comprising a first magnet configured to produce a first magnetic field; 
 a second electronic component comprising a second magnet configured to produce a second magnetic field; 
 a case comprising:
 a first charging compartment configured to accommodate and charge the first electronic component, 
 a second charging compartment configured to accommodate and charge the second electronic component, and 
 a three-dimensional (3D) magnetic field sensor configured to measure at least a first magnetic field component and a second magnetic field component of a magnetic field influenced by the first magnetic field, based on the first electronic component being arranged in proximity to the 3D magnetic field sensor, and influenced by the second magnetic field, based on the second electronic component being arranged in proximity to the 3D magnetic field sensor, wherein the first magnetic field component and second magnetic field component are aligned in perpendicular directions; and 
 
 a detection circuit configured to:
 detect a position of the first electronic component relative to the first charging compartment based on the magnetic field sensed by the 3D magnetic field sensor, and 
 detect a position of the second electronic component relative to the second charging compartment based on the magnetic field sensed by the 3D magnetic field sensor,
 wherein the detection circuit is configured to calculate an arctangent function of the first magnetic field component and the second magnetic field component, and detect the position of the first electronic component and the position of the second electronic component based on evaluating the arctangent function relative to one or more arctangent thresholds. 
 
 
 
     
     
       2. The device of  claim 1 , wherein the detection circuit is further configured to:
 detect an arrangement of the first electronic component or the second electronic component in the at least one of the first charging compartment or the second charging compartment, and 
 initiate a charging process of the first electronic component or the second electronic component when the arrangement of the first electronic component or the second electronic component in the at least one of the first charging compartment or the second charging compartment is detected. 
 
     
     
       3. The device of  claim 1 , wherein the position of the first electronic component and the position of the second electronic component is detected based on:
 determining that the second magnetic field component exceeds a predetermined threshold; and 
 determining whether the arctangent function is positive or negative. 
 
     
     
       4. The device of  claim 1 , wherein the position of first electronic component and the position of the second electronic component is detected based on the arctangent function and a derivative of the arctangent function. 
     
     
       5. The device of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the arctangent function is atan 2(2By,Bx), 
 Bx is the first magnetic field component, and 
 By is the second magnetic field component. 
 
     
     
       6. The device of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a calculation circuit configured to calculate a 3D magnetic field vector of the magnetic field, 
 wherein the detection circuit is further configured to detect the position of the first electronic component and the position of the second electronic component based on the 3D magnetic field vector. 
 
     
     
       7. The device of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a case cover configured to cover an interior of the case; and 
 a third magnet in the case cover, the third magnet configured to produce a third magnetic field, 
 wherein the detection circuit is further configured to detect a position of the case cover based on a third magnetic field component of the magnetic field, the third magnetic field component being attributed to the third magnetic field. 
 
     
     
       8. The device of  claim 7 , wherein the third magnetic field component is linearly independent from the first magnetic field component and the second magnetic field component. 
     
     
       9. The device of  claim 7 , wherein the detection circuit is further configured to:
 detect a closed state or open state of the case cover based on comparing the third magnetic field component with a threshold value. 
 
     
     
       10. The device of  claim 7 , wherein, when the first electronic component and the second electronic component are in the first charging compartment and the second charging compartment, respectively, a first magnetization direction of the first magnet is opposite to a second magnetization direction of the second magnet. 
     
     
       11. The device of  claim 10 , wherein, in a closed state of the case cover, a third magnetization direction of the third magnet is perpendicular to each of the first magnetization direction and the second magnetization direction. 
     
     
       12. The device of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first charging compartment or the second charging compartment is further configured to wirelessly charge at least one of the first electronic component or the second electronic component. 
     
     
       13. The device of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first electronic component or the second electronic component includes a wireless earbud. 
     
     
       14. The device of  claim 1 , wherein the detection circuit is further configured to:
 adapt a detection threshold value based on at least one of a degradation of the first magnet over time, or a change in a temperature of the device. 
 
     
     
       15. The device of  claim 1 , wherein the detection circuit is further configured to:
 calculate a derivative of the arctangent function, and 
 detect the position of the first electronic component and the position of the second electronic component based on evaluating a slope of the derivative. 
 
     
     
       16. The device of  claim 1 , wherein the detection circuit is further configured to:
 calculate a derivative of the arctangent function, determine whether the derivative is positive or negative, and 
 detect the position of the first electronic component and the position of the second electronic component based on the derivative being positive or negative. 
 
     
     
       17. The device of  claim 1 , wherein the detection circuit is further configured to:
 detect the position of the first electronic component and the position of the second electronic component based on comparing the second magnetic field component to one or more thresholds. 
 
     
     
       18. The device of  claim 1 , wherein the detection circuit is further configured to:
 compare the second magnetic field component to a threshold to determine whether or not the second magnetic field component satisfies the threshold, 
 compare the arctangent function to an arctangent threshold to determine whether or not the arctangent function satisfies the arctangent threshold, and 
 detect the position of the first electronic component and the position of the second electronic component based on whether or not the second magnetic field component satisfies the threshold, and based on whether or not the arctangent function satisfies the arctangent threshold. 
 
     
     
       19. The device of  claim 1 , wherein the detection circuit is further configured to:
 compare the second magnetic field component to a threshold to determine whether or not the second magnetic field component satisfies the threshold, 
 determine whether the arctangent function is positive or negative, and 
 detect the position of the first electronic component and the position of the second electronic component based on whether or not the second magnetic field component satisfies the threshold, and based on whether the arctangent function is positive or negative. 
 
     
     
       20. The device of  claim 1 , wherein the detection circuit is further configured to:
 compare the second magnetic field component to a threshold to determine whether or not the second magnetic field component satisfies the threshold, and 
 based on the second magnetic field component satisfying the threshold:
 determine whether the arctangent function is positive or negative, 
 based on the arctangent function being positive, determine that the first electronic component is arranged inside the first charging compartment, and that the second electronic component is inserted or getting inserted into the second charging compartment, and 
 based on the arctangent function being negative, determine that the second electronic component is arranged inside the second charging compartment, and that the first electronic component is inserted or getting inserted into the first charging compartment. 
 
 
     
     
       21. The device of  claim 20 , wherein the detection circuit is further configured to:
 based on the second magnetic field component not satisfying the threshold:
 calculate a derivative of the arctangent function, 
 determine whether the derivative is positive or negative, 
 based on the derivative being negative, determine that the first electronic component is arranged outside of the first charging compartment and that the second electronic component is arranged inside of the second charging compartment, and 
 based on the derivative being positive, determine that the second electronic component is arranged outside of the second charging compartment and that the first electronic component is arranged inside of the first charging compartment. 
 
 
     
     
       22. The device of  claim 1 , wherein the detection circuit is further configured to:
 compare the arctangent function to an arctangent threshold to determine whether or not the arctangent function satisfies the arctangent threshold, and 
 based on the arctangent function satisfying the arctangent threshold:
 calculate a derivative of the arctangent function, 
 determine whether the derivative is positive or negative, 
 based on the derivative being negative, determine that the first electronic component is arranged outside of the first charging compartment and that the second electronic component is arranged inside of the second charging compartment, and 
 based on the derivative being positive, determine that the second electronic component is arranged outside of the second charging compartment and that the first electronic component is arranged inside of the first charging compartment. 
 
 
     
     
       23. The device of  claim 22 , wherein the detection circuit is further configured to:
 based on the arctangent function not satisfying the arctangent threshold:
 determine whether the arctangent function is positive or negative, 
 based on the arctangent function being positive, determine that the first electronic component is arranged inside the first charging compartment, and that the second electronic component is inserted or getting inserted into the second charging compartment, and 
 based on the arctangent function being negative, determine that the second electronic component is arranged inside the second charging compartment, and that the first electronic component is inserted or getting inserted into the first charging compartment. 
 
 
     
     
       24. A method, comprising:
 sensing, by a three-dimensional (3D) magnetic field sensor arranged in a case, a magnetic field produced by:
 a first magnetic field generated by a first magnet included in a first electronic component, and 
 a second magnetic field generated by a second magnet included in a second electronic component, 
 wherein sensing the magnetic field includes measuring at least a first magnetic field component and a second magnetic field component of the magnetic field that is influenced by the first magnetic field, based on the first electronic component being arranged in proximity to the 3D magnetic field sensor, and influenced by the second magnetic field, based on the second electronic component being arranged in proximity to the 3D magnetic field sensor, and 
 wherein the first magnetic field component and second magnetic field component are aligned in perpendicular directions; and 
 
 detecting a position of the first electronic component, relative to a first charging compartment of the case and configured to accommodate the first electronic component, based on the magnetic field; 
 detecting a position of the second electronic component, relative to a second charging compartment of the case and configured to accommodate the second electronic component, based on the magnetic field; 
 calculating an arctangent function of the first magnetic field component and the second magnetic field component; and 
 detecting the position of the first electronic component and the position of the second electronic component based on evaluating the arctangent function relative to one or more arctangent thresholds.